Leslie v. Jones Chemical Co., Inc.

OPINION

By the Court,

Thompson, J.:

In this personal injury action the defendants admitted liability. Following trial, the jury awarded compensatory and punitive damages to each plaintiff. The verdict favoring plaintiff Leslie was for $150,000 compensatory and $125,000 punitive damages. The verdict for plaintiff Good was for $35,-000 compensatory and $125,000 punitive damages. Believing that the punitive damage awards totalling $250,000 were the result of passion and prejudice, the district court granted the defendants’ motion for a new trial unless each plaintiff would accept a remittitur of…